Most people know about Disneyland and Walt Disney World, but did you know that there are actually Disney resorts all around the world? I’m not talking about hotels like Aulani or private beaches like Castaway Cay. These are fully developed theme park destinations with attractions, characters, hotels and dining. If you’re looking to broaden your Disney vacations horizons, you might want to add on a list of Disney resorts around the world.
There are 6 fully-formed Disney resorts in the world right now: Anaheim, Orlando, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai (with Anaheim being the oldest and Shanghai being the newest). Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney, Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disney are situated abroad.
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Download Now!You may be thinking “Who cares? Seen one, seen ‘em all,” but these parks are actually not as similar as one might expect. The Disney resorts outside of America are full of surprises and unique experiences that you just can’t get in Anaheim or Orlando.
Tokyo Disney was the first Disney park to be built outside of the USA. It’s also the only Disney resort that isn’t partly owned by the Walt Disney Company itself, though they do have creative control. Tokyo Disney is comprised of two parks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Tokyo Disneyland is a riff on the “castle park” Disney resort style, with a Cinderella Castle, a Main Street USA and a series of themed lands. Tokyo DisneySea is a nautical-inspired park, with themed “ports of call.” It’s not a water park, just a park with a water… theme.
The best attractions unique to Tokyo Disney are Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, Monster’s Inc. Ride & Go Seek, Journey to the Center of the Earth and the Venetian Gondolas. A lot of diehard Disney fans love Tokyo Disney, and some even go so far as to say Tokyo DisneySea is the best Disney park in the world.
Disneyland Paris consists of a castle park, called Disneyland Park, and a park based on Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, called Walt Disney Studios Park. Originally known as Euro Disney, Disneyland Paris is a charming resort with a little bit of European flair.
The best attractions unique to Disneyland Paris are Phantom Manor (their version of the Haunted Mansion), Remy’s Totally Zany Adventure, Crush’s Coaster and Alice’s Curious Labyrinth. Disneyland Paris is home to what is, in my opinion, Disney’s most beautiful castle. Their centerpiece Sleeping Beauty Castle is playful, colorful and inspired by nearby historic architecture. There’s also a dragon underneath, which is less historic and more awesome.
Hong Kong Disneyland is teeny tiny, especially since it’s built entirely on reclaimed land. Their little centerpiece castle is reminiscent of Anaheim’s squat Sleeping Beauty Castle. In fact, it’s almost an exact copy (maybe an homage to Disney’s Xerox era?). A huge overhaul of the park is upcoming, including the addition of new lands and a new look for the castle. Be on the lookout for the new Frozen land, Marvel land and a Moana-themed Adventureland makeover.
The best unique attractions at Hong Kong Disneyland include Mystic Manor (a distant relative of the Haunted Mansion), Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop and the Iron Man Experience. There’s also a fascinating, trilingual version of the Jungle Cruise, with lines in Mandarin, Cantonese and English.
Of all the Disney resorts Shanghai is the newest, and it shows. This glossy, beautiful park is jam-packed with thrill rides and amazing attractions that reimagine stateside Disney classics. Shanghai Disney is crowned with the largest castle out of all the Disney parks. The Enchanted Storybook Castle is tall and sprawling and very pink, with several attractions housed inside.
Shanghai Disney is perhaps the most unique castle park, offering a variety of new attractions and lands, with a layout inspired by the rules of feng shui. Hong Kong Disneyland attempted to solve the Main Street USA feng shui problem (a straight road leading to the castle that caused chi to flow out of the park) by bending the walkway from the train station to the gate. Shanghai Disney solves the problem by replacing Main Street USA with the (much shorter) Mickey Avenue, followed by a large Chinese garden filled with Disney versions of the Chinese zodiac animals. The winding pathways of the garden protect Enchanted Storybook Castle’s chi.
The most exciting and unique attractions at Shanghai Disney are the TRON Lightcycle Power Run, Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure (which deviates wildly from other Pirates of the Caribbean rides), Voyage to the Crystal Grotto and the Roaring Rapids.
What’s next on your list of Disney vacations around the world? Let us know in the comments below!
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is there a disney park tour that covers all four parks outside the us. all in one tour?
Hi there!
Wow … that would be one amazing trip! A AAA Travel advisor would be happy to discuss it with you. Feel free to schedule an in-branch meeting by visiting AAA.com/Travel.
Please let us know if you take this trip – what a story that would be!
Take care,
Dana L.
Can I get speed passes from AAA? Character lunch specials? We’re going to Disney World in May. We already have our entrance tickets and will be doing Magic Kingdom. Thanks for any help you can provide. Peggy Sanders
Hi Marjorie!
If you purchased a Disney package through AAA, we’d be more than happy to help you! Please contact a travel counselor at AAA.com/Travel. If you purchased your Disney tickets through Disney, you’ll have to go through their website for assistance.
I hope this was helpful! Have a great time!
-Dana